City Hotel was one of Mendocino’s first lodging spots

Today, Mendocino is known for its unique and welcoming inns and hotels. One of the town’s first hotels was John E. Carlson’s City Hotel. John was born in Colson, Sweden on June 20, 1827 and boarded a ship bound for California in 1849 at the start of the Gold Rush. He quickly grew disillusioned by panning gold, and set out as a crewman on ships bound for Sweden, China, Panama, and back to San Francisco. From there, he traveled up the coast to Mendocino to log the redwoods. By 1857, John was tired of logging and bought a lot at the west end of Main Street from William Kelley. He built a three-story hotel and livery barn, stocked with horses, wagons, and carriages.

The City Hotel thrived in the early years, and John was well liked in Mendocino. In October 1870, a fire consumed 25 buildings on Mendocino’s Main Street, including the City Hotel. John did not have insurance and suffered a loss of $14,000 plus his income. He immediately began rebuilding a bigger and better hotel to recoup his losses. Within six months, he was nearly finished with construction. The new City Hotel boasted a parlor, dining room, and saloon on the ground floor. The dining room became a popular spot for locals to have Sunday dinner after church. The second floor contained guest rooms, each with a bed, chair, and commode (made up of pots, bowls, and water pitchers). The third floor housed the family’s living quarters and housing for employees.